The first week at Hogwarts was an avalanche of information, sensation, and relentless System processing. Harry navigated it with a calm efficiency that belied the sheer volume of data flooding his awareness. He was Level 13, his experience bar steadily climbing towards 14 (currently 1700/3200), his mind a finely tuned instrument for acquiring and integrating knowledge. The grandeur of Hogwarts, the baffling complexity of its magic, the shifting social dynamics of Gryffindor House – all were categorized, analyzed, and optimized for his continued growth.
His evenings, after the initial chaos of homework and common room chatter subsided, were dedicated to strategic System use. Curtains drawn around his four-poster bed, Hedwig a silent, watchful presence from her perch on his trunk, Harry would immerse himself in his internal logs and the newly acquired texts. The most vital was [ITEM: Book - The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts]. He re-read key sections nightly, his [INT 23] and [WIS 22] allowing for rapid assimilation, cross-referencing G. Vole's historical accounts with the whispers he'd overheard about "You-Know-Who" and Ollivander's chilling pronouncements about his wand.
The System aided this process, its tendrils of logic weaving through the dense text, creating complex profiles: [ENTITY: Lord Voldemort (Alias: You-Know-Who) - Historical Data: High-Level Dark Wizard, Responsible for [First Wizarding War Culmination Incident], Directly Linked to [User Scar Event]. Abilities: Unconfirmed (Presumed Vast: Dark Arts Mastery, Advanced Transfiguration, Unspeakable Curses). Current Status: Vanquished/Dormant (High Probability of Lingering Influence/Potential Return - System Monitoring for Correlated Anomalies)]. His parents, James and Lily Potter, also gained richly detailed profiles, their magical talents and bravery highlighted by the text, their sacrifice a stark counterpoint to the fear Voldemort inspired. Each fact absorbed, each connection made between historical event and personal consequence, added small but significant INT/WIS EXP. (+5 EXP per significant data point).
His academic performance, unsurprisingly, was stellar. The theoretical framework for spellcasting Hermione had inadvertently provided, combined with his high stats and [Intent Focus Lv. 2], meant he mastered new charms and transfigurations with an ease that baffled his peers and even drew measured, appraising nods from Professor Flitwick. He wasn't just performing the spells; he was understanding the flow of his [Unclassified Magical Energy], the precise alignment required with his wand, the subtle feedback loops the System registered. For each successfully executed spell beyond the first mastery, the System logged: [Skill Practice: [Spell Name - e.g., Alohomora] - Outcome: SUCCESS. Energy Efficiency: Optimal. Control Parameter: High. Minor INT/WIS/DEX EXP gained. Minor Skill Tree [Charms (Basic)] EXP gained.]
He deliberately held back in Potions, presenting Snape with competent, by-the-book results, never hinting at the rapid deductions his mind was actually making about ingredient synergy or potential alternative brewing steps (information often gleaned from subtly observing Snape's own micro-adjustments or the faint energy signatures of optimally brewed potions from other students using [Observe Lv. 6]). Revealing his true analytical capacity to the hostile Potions Master felt like a strategic error; Snape was a threat to be managed, not impressed. His System flagged each interaction with Snape as [Hostile Encounter - Data Collection/Threat Assessment Active. User Response Protocol: Cautious Compliance / Information Withholding - Objective: Avoid Escalation/Unnecessary Penalties].
One evening, while reviewing his System logs, specifically the "Spellcasting Mechanics Data Update" from his first Transfiguration class which detailed the utilization of [Unclassified Magical Energy] rather than MP for spells, Harry noticed a new, subtle sub-menu flicker into existence within the System interface. It wasn't a skill or a stat, but a passive analytical discovery.
🔔 [SYSTEM ANALYSIS PROTOCOL: PASSIVE DISCOVERY]
[System has detected recurring efficiency patterns in successful User spellcasting events, correlating directly with core User Stats (INT, WIS, DEX) and developed [Intent Focus] Skill.]
[Hypothesis: The 'Unclassified Magical Energy' channeled for spellcasting is not raw power alone, but is modulated and refined by User's core mental and physical attributes, amplified by focused intent.]
[Potential New System Interface Unlock Detected: [Magical Energy Modulation Matrix]. Function: Allows focused training/understanding to improve efficiency and control of Stat-to-Magic energy conversion. Requires further successful and diverse spell applications to fully map and activate.]
This was new. The System wasn't just observing his magic; it was starting to understand its interaction with his stats on a deeper level. This "Magical Energy Modulation Matrix" sounded like a pathway to greater control and efficiency, beyond just leveling up his skills. It implied that his Gamer System wasn't just layered on top of his magic; it was becoming integrated with its very mechanics, potentially unlocking more profound customization in the future. This discovery, a direct insight into the System's evolving understanding of his powers, yielded a significant mental EXP boost: [+200 INT/WIS EXP for System Mechanic Insight].
Current EXP: 1700/3200 + 200 (System Insight) + ~50 (from nightly reading) = 1950/3200.
He also began cautiously exploring Hogwarts itself during free periods or after curfew, when his [Stealth Lv. 8] made him virtually invisible. He wasn't seeking trouble, but knowledge. His [Situational Awareness Lv. 7] and [Observe Lv. 6] mapped corridors, identified enchanted objects ([ITEM: Talking Portrait - Sir Cadogan - Status: Sentient Magical Construct - Dialogue Options Logged]), noted subtle magical traps or wards ([Anomaly: Corridor 3B - Faint Ward Detected - Energy Signature: Containment/Alarm - Avoidance Recommended]), and occasionally, located minor, hidden alcoves or passages. He logged these: [Location Data Acquired: Hidden Alcove (Behind Tapestry - Charms Corridor). Potential Use: Stealth Access / Safe Zone / Cache Point]. Each discovery added to his internal map and provided small packets of exploration EXP (+3-10 EXP per notable find).
During one such exploration, venturing higher into the castle than most first-years dared, he found a disused classroom on the fifth floor, far from the usual Gryffindor haunts. It was dusty, filled with broken desks and forgotten equipment. But one corner held a surprisingly intact, though ancient, enchanted chalkboard. As he approached, focusing [Observe], the System registered:
📜 [ITEM: Enchanted Chalkboard (Practice Model - Depleted Energy)].
Description: A chalkboard designed for interactive spell practice. Responds to correctly channeled magical intent and wand movements, displaying theoretical diagrams or visualizing energy flow patterns.
Status: Currently dormant due to depleted internal energy reserves.
Recharge Method: Requires direct infusion of focused [Unclassified Magical Energy] (Potential Skill Check: [Magical Energy Channeling - Untrained]) or prolonged proximity to ambient magical saturation (Hogwarts - Slow passive charge).
Potential Function: Could be used for advanced spell theory analysis, visualization of the [Magical Energy Modulation Matrix], or experimental spell design if reactivated.
A practice tool! And directly relevant to the System's new discovery. If he could reactivate it, it might help him understand the spellcasting protocols even better. His first attempt to channel energy into it with his wand, simply by willing it, failed – his control wasn't fine enough, or he lacked the specific understanding of "direct infusion." The System logged: [Action: Attempt Direct Energy Infusion (Chalkboard) - Outcome: FAILURE. Reason: Insufficient User control over raw [Unclassified Magical Energy] flow / Lack of appropriate channeling protocol.] It was another puzzle, another System-flagged objective under [Investigate Magic as a System Category – Sub-Task: Activate Enchanted Chalkboard].
His interactions with Ron and Hermione settled into a comfortable routine. Ron provided a constant stream of Wizarding world common knowledge and amusing anecdotes ("My brother Charlie says a Norwegian Ridgeback is a lovely pet, if you've got the space... like, all of Scotland"), a valuable source of cultural data and social observation. Hermione, when not correcting Ron or lecturing on proper study habits ("Honestly, Ronald, the incantation is Wing-GAR-dium Levi-O-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long!"), remained an unparalleled source of academic theory, often unknowingly providing Harry with the conceptual language to frame his System's raw data. Harry learned to subtly guide their conversations, asking innocent-sounding questions ("Do different wands feel different even if they're the same wood, Hermione?" or "Ron, did your brothers ever find any really old parts of the castle?") that filled crucial gaps in his System's database or confirmed his own textual research. He shared his Gringotts-funded sweets generously during study sessions in the common room, a simple act that seemed to foster goodwill and open communication channels. His [CHA 21] was proving useful not for overt persuasion, but for creating a stable, information-rich social micro-environment.
The only looming shadow was Snape, whose pointed questions and thinly veiled animosity continued unabated in Potions. Harry continued his strategy of careful competence, never excelling too obviously, never giving Snape a concrete reason for more than the standard Gryffindor point deductions. Each class was a high-stakes game of mental chess, logged and analyzed for threat patterns and potential weaknesses in Snape's scrutiny.
As September drew to a close, Harry felt settled, not in a comfortable, lazy way, but in the way a player settles into a new, complex level, having identified the core mechanics, resources, and immediate threats. He had his routine, his study goals, his exploration targets. The mystery of how his parents' protection worked, the true nature of Voldemort, and the purpose of his shared wand core were massive, overarching quests, but the path to understanding them was through the daily grind of learning, mastering, and Systematically dissecting the magic of Hogwarts.
One night, after reviewing his progress on the [Magical Energy Modulation Matrix] (still theoretical, pending more diverse spell use) and the challenge of the [Enchanted Chalkboard], the System presented a new, quiet notification, its blue text glowing softly in his internal vision:
💡 [SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION SUGGESTION: Perk Point Allocation]
[User currently possesses 11 Perk Points. The [Perk Point Allocation Interface] is available.]
[Analysis Suggests: Strategic allocation to [INT] or [WIS] could significantly accelerate understanding of [Magical Energy Modulation] and complex spellcasting protocols. Alternatively, boosting [DEX] may enhance wand control for precise energy channeling. Development of a new Stat/Ability via potential future 'Special Perks' (Option 3 - Currently Unavailable) remains a long-term consideration.]
[Recommendation: Review available options and consider strategic allocation for accelerated magical development based on current objectives (e.g., Chalkboard reactivation, deeper spell theory understanding).]
The System itself was prompting him, offering a clear path to enhance his efforts. His journey into the deeper mechanics of his own magic was recognized as a primary path for growth. He had the tools. Now, he needed to decide how to best empower himself for the scholarly and practical pursuits that lay ahead in this ancient, magical castle. The secrets of Hogwarts, and the secrets within himself, were waiting to be unlocked, one carefully allocated Perk Point, and one meticulously analyzed spell, at a time.